The story of modern-day Kariba is intimately tied to the story of its eponymous dam, which sits stemming the headwaters of the mighty Zambezi River just to the north of town. Both sprung to life in the middle of the 1950s—one to electrify the nations of Zambia and Zimbabwe, the other to house the construction workers and infrastructure needed to complete the project. Today, little Kariba still draws its lifeblood from the mighty lake that now runs for more 200 kilometers into the heart of Central Africa in front of it, albeit in a more eco-minded, visitor-friendly way.

Yes sir, from industrial outpost to ecotourist hotspot, this city has all but shed its original raison d'être and now serves as the gateway to Lake Kariba’s wildlife parks, game reserves and stunning stretches of shoreline. Kariba tour guides tout houseboat safaris across the waters, where schools of shimmering tiger fish dart back and forth; others offer hiking excursions along the rugged clifftops and verdant riparian lands of the Matusadona National Park, or game drives to the Mana Pools, extending into the wilds of Charara and Hurungwe safari areas.